Auxiliary tine for a reel tube of a harvester header

Abstract

A paddle tine for use over a pickup tine previously fixed with a harvester reel tube of a harvesting header comprises an elongated body having a central cavity therethrough and is adapted to slide over the pickup tine of the harvester reel tube. An attachment mechanism, such as one or more resilient clips with a fastening clip, is fixed with the proximal end of the elongated body to secure the paddle tine to the harvester reel tube over the pickup tine. Two opposing paddle webs project laterally away from the elongated body proximate the distal end.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An auxiliary tine configured to attach over an existing pickup tine previously attached to a harvester reel tube, the harvester reel tube being substantially circular in cross-section, the existing pickup tine having a clamp portion that clamps around the substantially circular harvester reel tube, the existing pickup tine further having an elongated finger that extends from the clamp portion and away from the substantially circular harvester reel tube, the auxiliary tine comprising:
 an elongated body portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated body portion further having a cavity therethrough, the cavity is configured to slidably receive the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine; 
 a resilient reel tube clip fixed at the proximal end of the elongated body portion, the resilient reel tube clip configured to resiliently receive and matingly engage with the substantially circular harvester reel tube; 
 whereby, when the auxiliary tine is attached to the substantially circular harvester reel tube, the resilient reel tube clip matingly engages with a portion of the substantially circular harvester reel tube laterally adjacent to the clamp portion of the existing pickup tine and the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine is received within the cavity of the elongated body portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The auxiliary tine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a paddle portion at the distal end of the elongated body portion, the paddle portion having a lateral width greater than a width of the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine. 
 
     
     
       3. The auxiliary tine of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body portion is arced from the distal end to the proximal end forming a concave side and a convex side when viewed in a side elevation view. 
     
     
       4. The auxiliary tine of  claim 1 , wherein the reel tube clip includes a notch to receive the clamp portion of the existing pickup tine. 
     
     
       5. The auxiliary tine of  claim 2 , wherein the paddle portion includes a web portion and a reinforced portion at a distal end of the web portion, the reinforced portion having a thickness greater than the web portion. 
     
     
       6. The auxiliary tine of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient reel tube clip, includes an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion having less resilience than the inner portion. 
     
     
       7. The auxiliary time of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fastener having a portion configured to matingly receive a portion of the substantially circular harvester reel tube opposite the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine and configured to engage with the resilient reel tube clip such that the fastener and the resilient reel tube clip cooperatively encircle the substantially circular harvester reel tube and together secure the auxiliary tine onto the substantially circular harvester reel tube. 
 
     
     
       8. The auxiliary tine of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener includes at least one fastening tie and wherein the resilient reel tube clip includes at least one loop, whereby the at least one fastening tie threads through the at least one loop and about the substantially circular harvester reel tube. 
     
     
       9. The auxiliary tine of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one fastening tie is a hook-and-loop fastening strip. 
     
     
       10. The auxiliary tine of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener includes at least one fastening tie which encircles the substantially circular harvester reel tube and the resilient reel tube clip. 
     
     
       11. The auxiliary tine of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one fastening tie is a hook-and-loop fastening strip. 
     
     
       12. The auxiliary tine of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener includes a fastener clip having an arcuate portion configured to matingly receive a portion of the substantially circular harvester reel tube opposite the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine, such that the arcuate portion of the fastener and the resilient reel tube clip cooperatively encircle the substantially circular harvester reel tube and together secure the auxiliary tine onto the substantially circular harvester reel tube. 
     
     
       13. The auxiliary tine of  claim 12 , wherein an outer surface of the resilient reel tube clip includes an outwardly-projecting ledge and wherein a distal end of the arcuate portion of the fastener clip includes an inwardly-projecting flange, whereby the inwardly-projecting flange of the fastener engages with the outwardly-projecting ledge of the resilient reel tube clip. 
     
     
       14. The auxiliary tine of  claim 13 , wherein the reel tube clip extends laterally to each side of the clamp portion of the existing pickup tine. 
     
     
       15. The auxiliary tine of  claim 14 , wherein the arcuate portion of the fastener clip has a lateral width proximate the lateral width of the resilient reel tube clip. 
     
     
       16. The auxiliary tine of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a paddle portion at the distal end of the elongated body portion, the paddle portion having a lateral width greater than a width of the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine. 
 
     
     
       17. The auxiliary tine of  claim 16 , wherein the paddle portion includes a web portion and a reinforced portion at a distal end of the web portion, the reinforced portion having a thickness greater than the web portion. 
     
     
       18. The auxiliary tine of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated body portion is arced from the distal end to the proximal end forming a concave side and a convex side when viewed in a side elevation view. 
     
     
       19. The auxiliary tine of  claim 18 , wherein the reel tube clip includes a notch to receive the clamp portion of the existing pickup tine. 
     
     
       20. An auxiliary tine configured to attach over an existing pickup tine previously attached to a harvester reel tube, the harvester reel tube being substantially circular in cross-section, the existing pickup tine having a clamp portion that clamps around the substantially circular harvester reel tube, the existing pickup tine further having an elongated finger that extends from the clamp portion and away from the substantially circular harvester reel tube, the auxiliary tine comprising:
 an elongated body portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated body portion further having a cavity therethrough, the cavity is configured to slidably receive the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine; 
 a resilient reel tube clip fixed at the proximal end of the elongated body portion, the resilient reel tube clip configured to resiliently receive and matingly engage with the substantially circular harvester reel tube; 
 whereby, when the auxiliary tine is attached to the substantially circular harvester reel tube, the resilient reel tube clip matingly engages with a portion of the substantially circular harvester reel tube laterally adjacent to the clamp portion of the existing pickup tine and the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine is received within the cavity of the elongated body portion; 
 a fastener clip having an arcuate portion configured to matingly receive a portion of the substantially circular harvester reel tube opposite the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine, such that the arcuate portion of the fastener and the resilient reel tube clip cooperatively encircle the substantially circular harvester reel tube and together secure the auxiliary tine onto the substantially circular harvester reel tube. 
 
     
     
       21. The auxiliary tine of  claim 20 , wherein the reel tube clip extends laterally to each side of the clamp portion of the existing pickup tine. 
     
     
       22. The auxiliary tine of  claim 20 , wherein the arcuate portion of the fastener clip has a lateral width proximate the lateral width of the resilient reel tube clip. 
     
     
       23. The auxiliary tine of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a paddle portion at the distal end of the elongated body portion, the paddle portion having a lateral width greater than a width of the elongated finger of the existing pickup tine. 
 
     
     
       24. The auxiliary tine of  claim 23 , wherein the paddle portion includes a web portion and a reinforced portion at a distal end of the web portion, the reinforced portion having a thickness greater than the web portion. 
     
     
       25. The auxiliary tine of  claim 20 , wherein the elongated body portion is arced from the distal end to the proximal end forming a concave side and a convex side when viewed in a side elevation view. 
     
     
       26. The auxiliary tine of  claim 20 , wherein the reel tube clip includes a notch to receive the clamp portion of the existing pickup tine.